Wal-Mart's U.S. namesake business, which accounts for 62 percent of the company's total revenue, had suffered because of the economic woes hitting its low income shoppers, who have been having a hard time stretching their dollars to the next paycheck.

Treasury yields have been falling since last week, when the Federal Reserve said it expected to hold interest rates near zero into late 2014, more than a year longer than its last estimate, because the economic recovery will need help.

“The Black Heritage Celebration continues to be one of the Cavaliers’ most impactful and enlightening programs,” said Cavs Legend and BHC co-chairman Campy Russell. “We’re thankful to have presenting partners State Farm and PNC Bank on board.

Thigpen has spent his entire career in the banking industry, joining the former Cleveland Trust Company in 1971 and serving in a variety of positions, culminating with his election and president and chief executive of the Ameritrust Development Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ameritrust Corporation.

Fifth Third Bank, Northeastern Ohio, an affiliate of Fifth Third Bancorp, has 86 full-service locations and more than 140 ATMs in Northeastern Ohio and employs more than 850 people locally.

The market will be closely watching a European economic summit in Brussels scheduled to start later Thursday.

The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 2.9 percent at 5,492 while Germany's DAX rose 4.3 percent to 6,048.